We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mahalene Dulay. Check out our conversation below.
Mahalene, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My morning routine is my sacred grounding space — it sets the tone and momentum for the day ahead. This time is reserved for my “non-negotiables”: mind and movement. I always begin with three deep breaths, hand over heart, and a quiet affirmation of gratitude for another day to be alive. It’s a simple reminder that every day is a gift and that tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Movement: Shortly after, I ease into morning movement with stretching and a 30-minute workout (or longer, if time allows). This can be a mix of strength, endurance, or simply whatever my body needs to get the blood flowing. Movement is a cornerstone of my routine because my health is a priority. It hasn’t always been this way — after multiple episodes of burnout and illnesses, I realized I can’t be the most present mom or business owner if I’m not taking care of myself.
Mind: Once I’m partially ready for the day (I hold off on dressing fully — toddlers sometimes find a way to add unexpected “food accessories” … if you know, you know), I turn to my notebook and schedule to review what the day holds. With time blocks and clear priorities listed, I know where my energy will flow. I also spend 5-10 minutes doing a brain dump — transferring thoughts from my head to paper to ease any overwhelm or mental clutter that could derail my focus.
One of my mantras is: “Clear the space to clear the mind.” As a mom, business owner, and community leader, it’s easy to get swept up in endless to-do lists. But through strong systems, support, and intentionality, I’ve learned to better prioritize my time and stay aligned with what truly matters.
Whether it’s a school day or a weekend, my morning routine remains consistent. It hasn’t always looked this way — different seasons of life have required my time in different ways. For example, in the newborn phase and early stages of building my business, I carved out time for myself whenever I could. My habits have evolved, and I’ve built in flexibility to adapt based on what’s happening (traveling, early morning games, a kid crawling into bed at night because they can’t sleep, etc.).
One thing is certain: no matter the morning, I always begin with gratitude for the gift of another day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born and raised in San Diego, I am the proud eldest daughter of Filipino immigrant parents. They came to the U.S. in pursuit of their “American Dream” — a story of resilience, grit, and faith in something greater than themselves. Their journey laid the foundation for my own path as an entrepreneur.
After graduating from the University of San Diego with a degree in Business Finance, I began my career as a wealth advisor at a large financial firm. In 2018, I made the bold decision to start my own financial planning firm — by 2020, my calling became crystal clear: who I was meant to serve.
With more than 18 years in the industry, I’ve often found myself one of the few women — and even fewer women of color — in the room. I’ve been told by prospective (usually male) clients that they only booked a meeting to ask me out. I’ve been told I’d “never make it”. I’ve even been told that I’m “good at what I do because Orientals are good at math.” Even today, I still encounter racism and sexism within the industry.
These experiences opened my eyes to a larger truth: for too long, women of color have been waiting for a seat at the money table. I got tired of waiting — so I built my own. That’s how Modern Wealth Collective® was born: out of the need for representation, empowerment, and inclusion in the financial space.
Modern Wealth Collective® was created as a safe, client-centered, and wholistic financial planning firm for those who have felt unseen and unheard. As an all-women team, we focus on strategic collaboration with our clients and partners to help them build and protect wealth — not just for themselves, but to elevate their influence and impact. Our work is grounded in three core pillars: Wealth, Impact, and Purpose.
Wealth. We take the time to learn about the uniqueness of your story and experiences to create and maintain sound financial plans that keep your most important financial goals at the core. We believe in generational wealth of money and knowledge to create a meaningful legacy for future generations to come.
Impact. We believe in wealth beyond the dollar signs. Through financial education and intentional spending, we empower our clients to use their money as a resource to give back to organizations, their communities and initiatives that make a meaningful impact. There is power in money and making the wise decisions with what to do with it should not have to be done alone.
Purpose. YOU are why Modern Wealth Collective® exists. We want to build your dreams, not just your dollars. We protect what matters most to you, not just your assets. Our team believes that your money story and what you do with it starts and ends with your “why”.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most profound and pivotal moments that shaped how I see the world was becoming a mom. There’s a saying, “You’ll understand when you become a parent,” and it couldn’t be truer. Motherhood gave me a deeper understanding of the joys and challenges my own parents faced as they built a business and provided for our family. They sacrificed so much — often putting their own well-being last.
As a mother, I work hard for my kids and for myself. While my children are my top priority, I’m intentional about placing my own well-being alongside theirs. I’ve learned that if I’m not taking care of myself, I can’t show up for them in the way they need me most.
Being a mom comes with the immense responsibility of shaping a human being — to nurture someone who is independent, thoughtful, compassionate, and kind. It’s both a privilege and a pressure. I want to share my lessons and instill strong values, while also giving them the tools and space to grow into their own identities.
The world isn’t always forgiving — and if I’m being honest, it feels heavy at times. As both a mom and an empath, I feel that heaviness deeply. More than anything, I want to be part of the solutions that make this world a better place for my children.
That’s the beautiful and painful paradox of motherhood: I can’t shield them from the world’s chaos, heartbreak, or uncertainty. What I can do is be their foundation — a place of stability, love, and safety that they can always return to, no matter where life takes them.
Motherhood has challenged me to my core, taught me powerful lessons, and deepened my love for myself in ways I never expected. It continues to shape not just how I see the world, but how I choose to move through it.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
What I love about this question is that the lessons and words of wisdom I would share with my younger self are the same ones I now share with my kids. It’s a beautiful full-circle in being able to pass down the values I was raised with, while also sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way as they navigate their own journeys.
If I had a moment with my younger self, we’d be sitting on the beach — toes in the sand, the sound of the waves grounding us — and I’d tell her to live life by her own design, not by the expectations of who she “should” be. Most importantly, I’d remind her to give herself permission to be fully and authentically herself. I’d tell her that she’s worthy, she’s strong and that she’s capable of anything she puts her mind to.
I’d tell her that life is a gift, and every day is an opportunity to create her own path. While there will always be external forces outside of her control, she has the power to choose where to focus her energy, and to find alignment in the decisions that shape her journey.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The face of wealth has looked a certain way for a long time. One of the biggest barriers diverse communities face is the myth that you need “a lot of money” to even be considered for financial advice. On top of that, there’s still a disproportionately low number of women, LGBTQ+, and people of color serving as wealth advisors — professionals who can truly connect with the lived experiences, cultures, and stories of the communities they serve.
While progress has been made, many women of color continue to experience significant disparities in income and wealth. This isn’t because of a single cause — it’s the result of intersecting systemic barriers, including:
• Limited funding for women- and BIPOC-owned startups
• Inadequate family leave and support for working parents
• Societal pressure to “choose” between building a career or business and raising children
• A lack of wealth advisors who deeply understand and reflect these experiences
For many of us, we are first-generation wealth builders — breaking cycles, rewriting narratives, and striving to build legacies that weren’t modeled for us. That’s why I created Modern Wealth Collective®: to meet these needs head-on. My mission is twofold — supporting clients in building and protecting their wealth with clarity and impact and creating space for diverse advisors to claim their seat at the table.
Long-term, I envision expanding this work to support financial education and literacy in public schools, so future generations — especially those from marginalized communities — are empowered early on.
Here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough: money is power. It creates options, access, and opportunity…and how we use it matters. For women of color, this hasn’t always been our narrative. To change that, we need financial education, representation, and advisors who see us, hear us, and advocate for our well-being. This is the work I’ll keep doing, because the future we deserve is worth it.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
This is a meaningful and timely question as I’m in this season of my life where it’s more apparent that time is finite: my kids are growing, my parents are aging and with so much happening in the world right now, I’m paying more attention to how I spend my time. While the line of work I do revolves around building and protecting wealth, I remind my clients (and myself) that wealth “buys” us the freedom of time. Time currency is something that we can’t get back; if I knew I had 10 years left, my perspective on time would change significantly.
Entrepreneurship has granted me the opportunities to build a life by my own design and to dream big. Because there is no limit to how much I can make or the impact I can have, I find myself wondering from time to time when is it “enough”: enough money, enough growth, enough to feel that I can let go and give myself permission to move on to work on the next best thing.
Over the years, I’ve done a lot of work for myself to prioritize where my time is spent (and believe me, this is a constant work in progress). I consider:
– Is how I’m spending my time aligning with my goals and values?
– Am I choosing relationships that evolve with me — or ones that keep me rooted in who I used to be?
– Are the choices I’m making nurturing my mind, body and spirit?
– Where — and with whom — am I choosing to invest my energy?
While there’s still more I want to do to fulfill my purpose, I recognize how far I’ve come and I’m proud of what I’ve built. With whatever time I have left, I want to end each day knowing I lived with intention, and that my time was spent with a full and grateful heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.modernwealthcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernwealthcollective
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahalenedulay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernwealthcollective/
Image Credits
Tanya Mercado Photography
Keeley Miller Photography
Elizabeth Ireland Photography
Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. The opinions expressed herein are solely the authors’ and do not reflect the opinions of Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS, Kestra AS, and Modern Wealth Collective® do not approve, endorse, nor are affiliated with external web sites linked herein or any of the material contained therein. Modern Wealth Collective® is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. CA Insurance License #0G04997. Investor Disclosures – https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures
